Hepatoprotective Potential of Curcumin in the Prevention of Liver Dysfunction in a Porcine Model

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Authors: Kamila Kibitlewska, Varunkumar Asediya, Krzysztof Karpiesiuk, Urszula Czarnik, M. Lecewicz, Paweł Wysocki, Prarthana Sharma, İwona OTROCKA-DOMAGAŁA, Łukasz Zielonka, A. Pomianowski, Adam Okorski, Garima Kalra
+30 more Sharmin Sultana, Nihal Purohit, Adam Lepczyński, M. Ożgo, Marta Marynowska, Agnieszka Herosimczyk, Elżbieta Redlarska, B. Slaska, Krzysztof Kowal, ANGELIKA TKACZYK-WLIZŁO, Paweł Grychnik, Athul P. Kurian, Kaja Ziółkowska, Grzegorz R. Juszczak, Mariusz Pierzchała, Katarzyna Chałaśkiewicz, Katarzyna Kępka, Ewa Poławska, Rafał Radosław Starzyński, Magdalena Ogłuszka, Hiroaki Taniguchi, Frieder Hadlich, Henry Reyer, Michael Oster, Nares Trakooljul, Avon Augustin Nalpadan, Siriluck Ponsuksili, Klaus Wimmers, Chandra Shekhar Pareek, W. Kozera
Cited by: 4
References: 153

Abstract

, has been widely investigated as a hepatoprotective adjunct due to its antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. This review evaluates the relevance of curcumin for the prevention and management of liver dysfunction and hepatitis in pigs by synthesizing available porcine evidence and integrating mechanistic insights from translational liver injury models where pig-specific data remain limited. Across experimental hepatic injury contexts, curcumin administration is most consistently associated with reduced biochemical and structural indicators of hepatocellular damage, including decreased aminotransferase activity, attenuation of lipid peroxidation, and enhancement of endogenous antioxidant defenses. These effects are mechanistically linked to suppression of pro-inflammatory signaling pathways, particularly NF-κB-related transcriptional activity and inflammasome-associated responses, together with reduced expression of key cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Concurrent activation of Nrf2-centered cytoprotective pathways and induction of phase II antioxidant enzymes (including HO-1, GST, and NQO1) appear to constitute a conserved axis supporting hepatic oxidative stress resilience. In swine-relevant infectious settings, available data further support antiviral activity against selected porcine pathogens, including classical swine fever virus and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, potentially mediated through interference with lipid-dependent stages of viral replication and modulation of Kupffer cell activation. Although combination strategies with established hepatoprotective approaches are conceptually attractive, current synergy evidence remains heterogeneous and largely extrapolated. Overall, curcumin represents a plausible adjunct candidate for supporting porcine liver health; however, translation into practice will depend on resolving formulation-dependent bioavailability constraints and strengthening the pig-specific evidence base.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Curcumin's Biomedical Applications Drug-Induced Hepatotoxicity and Protection Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment

Publication details

Journal / source
Nutrients
Publisher
MDPI AG
Volume
18
Issue
3
Pages
408–408
Publication date
26 January 2026
Language
EN